A 3% Chance of Survival Changed Him. His Purpose Followed.

What if the hardest thing you’ve ever faced became the reason you kept going?

In this episode of The Life Shift, we explore a pivotal life shift and the before and after moments that shaped John Ulsh’s journey through trauma, recovery, and rebuilding a life with purpose.

After surviving a horrific car accident that left him with a three percent chance of survival, John Ulsh spent years relearning how to live, move, and believe in the life ahead of him. Across 45 surgeries and 17 years of recovery, he found that healing wasn’t about getting “back” to normal. It was about building something new — one intentional day at a time.

In this conversation, we talk about:

1. How John reframed pain into purpose and found strength in progress, not perfection
2. The role of patience, humility, and self-compassion in long-term recovery
3. Why falling in love with the process can matter more than the goal itself

John’s story reminds us that survival can be just the starting line — and that even the hardest chapters can fuel something good.

John Ulsh knows what it means to rebuild. In 2007, he, his wife, and their two young children were in a catastrophic head-on collision. While his family suffered serious injuries, John took the brunt of the impact and was given less than a three percent chance of survival. After enduring over 45 surgeries and years of relentless recovery, he discovered that true resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship — it’s about learning to rise from it. Now, as the author of The Upside of Down, a speaker, and a coach, John helps others overcome adversity and turn setbacks into success. Learn more at www.johnulsh.com.

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